Lane splitting

What time are you going through, and which blocks? I am on L Street between Pennsylvania and Connecticut Avenue at about 9 a.m. Parking is not permitted at that hour, so doorings generally are not an issue (although sometimes a car pulls over to the curb to let out a passenger). Also, at that hour, traffic moves reasonably well such that I don’t feel it is necessary to lane split. I usually take the lane and go with the flow of traffic, which rarely exceeds my top pace (so I’m not holding anyone up).

My big pet peeve on L Street is that cars back up for parking garage entrances on both sides of the street. For the block between 19th and 18th, both the right and middle lanes often have backups for two parking garage entrances adjacent to each other. For that reason, I change lanes often in anticipation of avoiding these backups. I don’t want to get between the turning car and parking garage entrance.

All that said, if traffic were truly gridlocked on that street or any other, I don’t have a problem with lane splitting.

Liz

The problem I see with lane splitting while traffic is holding still is that it may start to move again.

@jnva 30513 wrote:

… In DC. What is the consensus on this? Am I a douchebag for doing this on L street (one way street) right down the middle during gridlock rush hour? I think it’s safer than riding on the side where I could get doored.

If you weren’t sure on the law here, which is understandable because I get questions on this all the time…..You can pass on the left or right in the same lane, but you cannot travel between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. So if you’re basing being a douchebag on being unlawful, than drivers might think that’s the case. I think riding on the right side has it’s pros and cons – you don’t have to be extra cautious about cars changing lanes as DismalScientist brings up, nor do you have the issue of being stuck between two lanes of traffic when it starts to move again (as baiskeli said), but the dooring is an issue as is pedestrians walking between two parked cars into the gridlock to cross the street. This happens more often on M street in Georgetown. Either way, you’ll have to be extra cautious. You’re your best judge – every situation is different.

See below for more info, it’s taken from VDOT (according to WABA’s website, the law is the same in DC). You can read more on DC’s laws on overtaking and passing here.

Passing

Bicyclists may overtake and pass another vehicle only when safe to do so. Bicyclists may pass another vehicle on the right or left, and they may stay in the same lane, change lanes, or ride off the road if necessary for safe passing. Please note that passing motor vehicles on the right side may be extremely dangerous if the motorist does not see the bicyclist and attempts a right turn.

A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or scooter, or moped shall not travel between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, except where one lane is a separate turn lane or a mandatory turn lane.

Motorists must approach and pass a bicyclist at a reasonable speed at least two feet to the left of the bicyclist.

Reference: §§46.2-839,46.2-907 ^TOPICS

@zanna_leigh 30559 wrote:

Passing

Bicyclists may overtake and pass another vehicle only when safe to do so. Bicyclists may pass another vehicle on the right or left, and they may stay in the same lane, change lanes, or ride off the road if necessary for safe passing.

A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or scooter, or moped shall not travel between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, except where one lane is a separate turn lane or a mandatory turn lane.

So, in gridlock you can’t “pass on the left” because that would be “traveling between two lanes” but you can cruise all the way up the right side (barring doors, pedestrians, etc) because that is passing on the right? I can think of many places where a right turn lane suddenly appears which, if traffic were stopped would convert your OK right side pass into a “between lanes” pass and thus illegal. I suppose that in that circumstance, for full legal compliance, you would stop before passing the last car in the new lane…

I have a left side complication with this that I go through every day- Fairfax Blvd heading EB before Clarendon “Circle” there is always a back up of cars turning left on 10th- I tend to signal over for two lanes and then cruise up the right side of those left-turning cars stopping in the “box” well clear of the left-turners (FWIW I don’t impede either he through traffic or the left-turning cars). Reading the above I think that I’m OK as long as the through left lane is in motion (because I would therefore be “in” that lane). Were it stopped, I’m suddenly in the “between lanes” again. Hmmm I’m not a fan- cruising up the stopped traffic there is unambiguously safer than crossing when it’s going 50mph and trying to “own” a lane at rush hour.

Have I mentioned how much I HATE “Clarendon Circle”? Every time I go through there I think “this can’t be right…”

@DismalScientist 30555 wrote:

I find taking the TR bridge and cutting over to L at New Hampshire less stressful than riding eastbound through Georgetown. I don’t have to race from a standing start up from Rock Creek to make a left on L.

Where is your sense of danger and excitement? :p

Liz

@jnva 30564 wrote:

So is it legal to travel between lanes of traffic that are NOT moving?

I do this all the time, and the other day I passed a MPD car stuck in traffic. Just wondering if I can be ticketed for doing this.

I would read it as “traveling in the same direction” instead of moving. I don’t think it literally means vehicles that are moving versus not moving but I could be wrong. It doesn’t seem to be legal, but whether you will actually get ticketed for it is another question.

I would travel based on your best judgement. If you feel less safe on the right side because of dooring or the possibility of someone turning right into you (at an intersection or into a driveway or parking spot), then pass on the left. But be wary that the law states you cannot do this if it is splitting the lanes. Just as bicyclists shouldn’t run red lights, many still do at their discretion when it is safe to do so.

@Dirt 30569 wrote:

I usually adjust my route to some smaller streets that may not be blocked.

I have been experimenting with this approach lately. My direct commute route in the morning usually moves quite well the whole way so it is not an issue. In the afternoon, however, the direct route takes me through Georgetown on M Street. I’ve used several options over the years but my preferred route at the moment is 17th Street south to G Street, west on G Street to Virginia Avenue and then TR Bridge. I only discovered this route because construction was blocking my normal route out of the alley behind our building, and the detour put me out on Connecticut. Like all other westbound routes it has its downsides, but it is a lot better than M Street.

The OP is arriving in the morning after the rush hour parking restrictions have been lifted so finding an alternative that moves may be a challenge.

Liz